How one Baylor alum is helping make anime accessible (and cool)

According to a recent study, 44% of Gen Z Americans (ages 13-28) regularly watch anime. The animation style, which largely originates from Japan but has found a worldwide following, features a unique animation style and complex storylines. With anime becoming more mainstream in the last decade, more streaming services are adding titles to their libraries in order to cater to such audiences.

Anime-focused streaming service Crunchyroll is among those leading the charge when it comes to providing the most robust collection of anime — and one of the people helping guide Crunchyroll is a Baylor alum.

Chris Han (BA ’14) is currently director of brand management for Crunchyroll. His journey to Baylor began with converting to Christianity at age 14, along with his 18-year-old brother, and then following him to the university.

“Growing up in a non-Christian home, I didn’t expect myself to go to a Christian university,” says Han. “My brother and I became very close after we converted, and he came to Baylor.”

The longstanding Baylor in New York program, coordinated through the Department of Film & Digital Media department and led by professor Joe Kickasola, also piqued Han’s interest. Acceptance into the program is highly selective and, at the time, only 18 students were chosen to participate.

“Once I got to New York, it was eye-opening,” Han remembers. “The program they curated for us was fantastic, but the city was not for me.”

After graduating from Baylor, Han returned to Dallas, where he joined Crunchyroll. Over the last decade, he’s worked his way up to director of brand management.

“In the anime industry, the product is owned by a group of organizations based in Japan,” Han explains. “My job is to make sure the products are being marketed in the right tone to the territories and regions that stream our content.”

Even with the influx of anime into American pop culture over the last 10 years, Han is still shocked at the reaction he gets now when he tells people about his job.

“People used to think you were weird if you liked anime,” Han says. “Now it’s becoming the norm, and kids love asking me questions about my work.”

Now, Han hopes to be able to give back to his alma mater by sharing his experience with today’s Baylor students.

“One of the most memorable things was hearing the guest speakers that would come in and give us a glimpse of the real world,” he says. “I’d love to be able to give back in that capacity.”

Sic ’em, Chris!